I suppose many of the education bashers have a point....

[mike_c]

I mean, most of the folks who REALLY look down their noses at education, at teaching and learning, are folks whose own educations apparently didn't take very well. Their rants are usually illustrated with anecdotes about the awful teachers and classes that let them down, so they're manifestly undereducated, at least in their own regard.

Their very failure to understand the value of education is evidence of its inability to fix stupid ignorance with 100 percent success. So yeah, I guess they have a point there.

[DrDan]

1. hannity is a perfect example of what you say

flunks out of NYU his freshman year.

Now blames it on the liberal faculty that simply were punishing him for his outspoken conservative views.

[Angry Dragon]

2. This might be interesting

:beer: :popcorn: :hide:

[Starry Messenger]

3. I was wondering if someone would go there.

:popcorn: After seeing DU teachers called "education zealots" (like it was a bad thing to be) I'm totally willing to k & r this.

[jpak]

4. Yup - and that's why teachers have unions to protect them

Why anyone would want to be a teacher today is beyond me.

[leftofcool]

5. popcorn time.

[Jamastiene]

6. K&R

:popcorn:

[Born_A_Truman]

7. Not bashing education at all ... just looking for solutions

Married to a teacher (HS Math), SIL is a teacher (HS Math). I don't believe, and neither does my DH and SIL, that there is no room for improvement.

I am not a teacher but I learn new things every day to improve my job skills.

But it's hard to have a discussion on this board about education when the reactions are so negative and defensive.

[mike_c]

10. I understand-- and it's not criticism of individual teachers that I object to so much...

...as using those attacks as veiled assaults on education in general, and on intellectualism. Every story about a "bad teacher" seems to illustrate some larger point these days, and the broader attack seems to be upon the notion that education is socially and personally valuable in and of itself, separate from the interpersonal and professional dynamics that characterize "good" and "bad" student/teacher interactions.

[Joe Fields]

18. that is not the perception I get, but obviously that's your conclusion.

It is the immutable and intractable, stubborn defense of teachers, by teachers on this board that absolutely will not allow for any criticism or any part of the blame as to why our kids are failing to learn.

Such stubborn and myopic defense is surely going to be met in kind with tales of bad and inadequate teachers.

As for myself, I am well educated and would never question the value of education, or the inspiration fostered by a good teacher. I have had many good teachers. Conversely, I have had many inadequate and several bad teachers. Contrary to some views here, those teachers hang around for years and do not get fired.

[madfloridian]

11. Indeed it is. We are now accepting posting teacher's personnal records..

in a major newspaper, and shrugging it off as though it were nothing.

Obama has done major harm to education by giving credence to things like posting teachers' private evaluations in newspapers.

[Born_A_Truman]

21. I'd be proud to post my husband's evaluations every year ...

I'm proud of them!

[quinnox]

8. No, I think its mostly overly zealous Obama supporters

Who are trying to justify his policies, if Obama wants it, then it must be right is their motto.

[Catshrink]

16. ITA

Some are unable to admit that he might be making a huge mistake.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. When they're not punching hippys, they're bashering education.

:eyes:

[DevonRex]

13. And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile...

I've made a pledge to sing that song whenever hippies are mentioned and I'm gonna stick to it, dammit. :hi:

[Curmudgeoness]

15. Good idea. I'm pulling that CD out right now. nt

[DevonRex]

17. Shall I break into Sam Stone, too?

:evilgrin:

Oh yeah, there's a cover CD of John Prine songs with one of my favorite groups on it: My Morning Jacket. I don't have it yet, though.

[Curmudgeoness]

19. He's here. But I'm having a Spanish Pipedream in Paradise.

Ahhhh. Paradise.

[DevonRex]

20. Alright I've got that one on YouTube.

Blow up the teevee.

[last_texas_dem]

12. K & R

[JanMichael]

14. with as many repukes and teabaggers out there...

...there must be a problem?